Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
You are the Giver of every gift, the One whose understanding is complete, and I stand at Your door with open hands.
What should I even ask for? Nothing I could name would last anyway. So give me the one thing worth having: Your beloved Name.
This one says: when you stand before a Giver who never runs out, ask for the gift that never fades.
The shabad opens with a small prayer. Ham thaaray bhaykhaaree: "I am Your beggar." There is no shame in that word here. It is the joy of standing before someone endlessly generous, with nothing to hide.
Then comes the question: mai ki-aa maaga-o, "what should I ask for?" And the answer: kichh thir na rahaa-ee, nothing stays forever. So ask only for the Name, the loving memory of the One.
Think of a birthday wish list. The toy you want most may be broken or boring by next year. But feeling loved keeps its shine. That is the gift worth asking for. This is Sorath's note of contentment: empty hands, reaching for the one thing that lasts.
If you could ask for one thing that would never wear out or run out, what would it be?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI